Summer brings moose to roads Drivers can lessen odds of collision

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It’s summer in Maine, which means people and moose are on the move. And so far this season, the mix has been especially violent.

Four motorists have died on Maine highways from moose-related accidents since Memorial Day weekend. A few dozen more drivers and passengers have been injured – some seriously – after encounters with Maine’s beloved but severely traffic-impaired state mammal.

The northern Penobscot County town of Medway, which is no stranger to moose-vehicle collisions, has had three recent moose-related fatalities, all of them on Interstate 95.

Officials in the small town of Phillips in western Maine report nine collisions in a little more than four weeks.

While it may be tempting to blame the recent rash of vehicle-moose collisions on an outbreak of mad-moose disease, experts say that animal biology and human driving habits are the most likely explanations.

Karen Morris, the lead moose biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said the large, long-legged members of the deer family get a strong craving for salt and aquatic plants in June and July. Roadside ditches offer moose an irresistible buffet of salty, watery edibles.

Black flies and other biting insects also keep moose and other forest-dwelling animals on the move. And year-old moose start life on their own in late spring and early summer as Mom turns all of her attention to her newborn calf, or even two.

“A lot of the moose you see walking along the roads acting really numb are yearlings who have just been kicked out,” Morris said.

Finally, moose are most active from dusk to dawn when the weather cools.

“They’re big, dark animals that are designed to live in northern Canada. They do not tolerate hot temperatures very well,” Morris said.

There are typically around 600 to 700 vehicle-moose collisions in Maine every year. That is a relatively small percentage of the roughly 5,000 wildlife-related crashes – the majority of them involving deer – that are reported in Maine every year.

But with moose capable of reaching 9 feet tall or larger and weighing in excess of 1,000 pounds, it’s no surprise that they account for a disproportionate share of serious injuries and fatalities to vehicle occupants (high-speed collisions are almost always deadly for the moose).

In 2001, representatives of five different state agencies completed a comprehensive study of wildlife-motor vehicle encounters, focusing most heavily on moose collisions during the late 1990s. Among the groups’ findings:

. More than 70 percent of moose collisions occurred on straight stretches of road.

. Most crashes occurred at speeds between 45 and 65 mph and above.

. Mainers accounted for four times as many moose collisions as non-Maine drivers.

. Aroostook, Franklin and Piscataquis counties had the highest number of collisions.

Highway engineers and public safety officials in the United States, Canada and Europe have employed a variety of methods for reducing motor vehicle collisions with large wildlife. Maine officials have tried many tactics, often with limited success.

Fencing can be effective but is costly to build and maintain over large areas. Animals trapped inside the fencing with no means of escape are particularly dangerous.

Maine experimented with spraying wolf urine and chemicals with a rotten-egg smell on some roadsides or medians to deter animals, but the method is costly and effective only over a short period.

Increased lighting in areas with a high number of crashes has proved effective but can be used only near power lines.

The Maine DIF&W issues moose hunting permits based, in part, on better managing the size of the herd in higher-crash areas.

The most common tactic is warning signs, ranging from simple pictures of moose to some with flashing lights tied to motion sensors. Signs are easy to maintain and have a low impact on the environment but are effective only if drivers heed the warning.

Along Route 4 near Phillips, highway engineers in the past have used larger rocks on the side of the road to slow down moose or deer before they enter the roadway. Road edges also have been painted with thicker white stripes to help drivers sooner detect a large presence stepping into the roadway.

“We’ve had nine collisions since Memorial Day, so I don’t think it’s been a deterrent,” said Karen Olivieri, town manager of Phillips.

In the Aroostook County town of Portage, the state works to keep the sides of Route 11 clear of vegetation to improve drivers’ peripheral vision. The town also has moose warning signs.

But Town Manager Rita Sinclair laughed when asked whether the signs slow drivers down. Speeding through Portage is a major concern, and not just because of the presence of moose, Sinclair said.

Morris, the DIF&W biologist, said drivers simply need to pay closer attention to their speed and the surrounding environment.

“Slow down, don’t overdrive your headlights,” Morris said. “And that usually means driving slower than the speed limit, no matter how much you annoy the people behind you.”

Tips for driving in moose country

. Pay attention to warning signs. They are placed in specific locations for a reason.

. Watch your speed, especially at night or in poor visibility. The vast majority of moose collisions happen at speeds in excess of 45 mph.

. Use high beams at night, and do not “drive beyond your headlights.”

. Moose and deer often travel in small groups. If you see one, be wary of more.

. Unlike deer, moose eyes rarely glow because they are taller than the reach of most headlights. So watch the roadside for dark silhouettes.

. If a moose refuses to budge from the roadway, stop and wait for the animal to move. Do NOT get out of the vehicle. Moose, especially bulls, will charge vehicles and people.

. If a crash is unavoidable, apply brakes and steer straight. Just before impact, let up on the brake to allow the front end to lift slightly and aim to hit the tail end of the animal. That may reduce the risk of the animal falling on the passenger cabin. Duck down to protect yourself from windshield debris.

Source: Maine Department of Transportation